Soda-water-draft apparatus



(No Model.)

A. D. PUFPER.

SODA WATER DRAFT APPARATUS.

N0. 418,223. Patented Dec. 31, 1889.

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ALVIN D. PUFFER, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SODA-WATER-DRAFT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,223, dated December31, 1889. Application filed October 12 1889. Serial No. 326,841. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN D. PUFFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSoda-Tater- Draft Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willeuable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tofigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to soda-water-draft apparatus, particularly thatclass termed cabinet fountains, in which a series of removablesirup-cans located within the fountain and each furnished with a valve,are supplied externally of the fountain with mechanism which operatessaid valves.

My invention consists in the construction of the Valve-rod and theactuating mechanism by which said rod, located in the sirupcan withinthe fountain, ispositively and easily operated outside of and in frontof the fountain, and caused to deliver the contents of said can into avessel placed to receive it; further, in the arrangement by which thesirup-cau with its valve and valve-rod can be instantly removed from thefountain, the valve-rod being disconnected from its actuating mechanismand engaging or disengaging, asrequired, when the can is removed to bereplenished or when it is replaced afterit has been filled.

The drawings herewith annexed represent in Figure 1 a vertical sectionalelevation transversely of a soda-water-draft apparatus embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the actuating mechanism for thevalve-rod in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one ofthe cans, showing a portion of the valve-rod and its actuatingmechanism. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide-plate, and Fig. 5is a sectional elevation of the va1ve-case.

In the accompanying drawings, 2 represents the exterior front casing inpart of a soda-water-draft apparatus.

3 is'a hinged cover, by which access is had to the chamber 4, in whichthe sirup-cans 5 are located. The latter are narrow deep vessels, openat the top, rectangular in shape, and arranged together side by side,the series extending the entire length of the fountain. The several cansare adapted to contain various kinds of sirup, and each one is providedwith a valve 6, which is seated within a conical valve-case 7, providedwith interior radial ribs 8 to guide the valve at this point, and,further, with a discharge orifice 9, adapted to deliver into adrinkingvesseLlO, aligned below it. These guides, located upon the wallof the valve-case, serve, when the valve is raised, to keep the latterin alignment with the seat and yet afford sufficient space for theliquid to pass readily around the valve upon all sides. Since thesesirupcans require replenishing, it is necessary that some simple andready device should be provided by which the valve can be operated fromthe outside of the fountain and at the same time permit the cans to beremoved from the fountain and replaced again, either p for purposes ofreplenishing or to clean the can.

Since the valve must be located at the bottom of the can, and the latteris to be preferably open at the top, I have made the valverod 12, whichcarries the valve 6, of inverted- U shape, thus avoiding any openingthrough the walls of the sirup-can. Said valve-rod is composed of therod 13, within the can, and the metallic bar 14:, outside. The lattermoves through guides 15 and has a toothed'rack 16 out upon one side at apoint where it is desired to place the mechanism for actuating thevalve-rod. The interior rod 13, carrying the valve, is maintained inplace by the ribs 8, which act as guides at this point. The throw of thevalve in the act of opening is limited by the teeth, which cease at sucha point that the teeth on the gear contact with the uncut portion of thebar 14 and further movement in this direction is stopped. In closing thevalve the throw is determined by the proper seating of said valve. Themechanism for operating the latter is as follows: Longitudinally in thefront wall of the fountain are bored a series of holes, each tocorrespond with one of the sirup-cans and by preference to be centrallylocated with respect to the front en d. Each hole is adapted to receivea tubular sleeve 17, with an ornamental head to abut against theexterior of the fountain and to co-operate with a nut interiorly, saidnut rack before mentioned.

engaging the screw-threaded portion of the sleeve. Within the bore ofsaid sleeve is fitted a short shaft 18, spring-actuated at 19, thepressure of the spring tending to press the inner end of said shaftagainst the front of the can, and thus hold the latter firmly in placeagainst the ice-box in the rear. The outer end is furnished with ahand-operating Wheel, while the inner one is supplied with a small gearor pinion 20, meshing in the toothed The pressure of the spring serves afurther objectthat is, to prevent the free axial movement of the shaft18. Thus since the pressure of the spring is strong the shaft is pushedwith sufficient force against the can front to prevent the turning ofsaid shaft, and the valve can be held in any desired position and soremain until the shaft is manually operated.

To aid in causing the gear and shaft to easily and readily engage witheach other, a plate 21 is affixed to the front of each can, and isformed with an upwardly-tapering or inverted-Y shaped slot 23. Thus theend of the shaft projecting beyond the gear enters the mouth of thisslot and thence passes up into the straight portion as the can islowered into place, thereby accurately centering the can and adjustingit in the same place each time when replaced. Further, this slot servesto bring the teeth of the rack and of thepinion into engagement. Hence,after the can is in place and the valve is to be opened by a slight turnof the wheel a positive movement of the valve is produced, while thelatter can thus be held partially open or closed and the attendant isfree to use both hands in adjusting the drinking vessels or goblets.

It is to be understood that each can is supplied with a valve and withsimilar mechanism, as above premised, for actuating said valve and whichpermits of ready removal of the can with its valve and valve-rod.

The operation of removing a can is as follows: Grasp the hand-wheel andpull it outwardly a short distance against the pressure of the spring19. By such act the gear is disengaged from the rack, and the cover 3having been previously thrown back the can is free to be lifted out. Toreplace the can, lower the same until the end of the spindle or shaft 18enters the mouth of the slot 23 in the guide 21. Continuing the movementof the can downward, the end of the shaft, by Wiping against either sideof said slot, causes the can to be positioned, and thus brings the rackinto contact with the gear. A slight turn in either direction of theshaft permits the teeth to mesh, when the operation is completed.

In Fig. 3 I have represented a glass or porcelain sirup-can and haveshown the manner in which I propose to attach the valve-rod removably toit. First, I place a flat metallic plate 24 upon the upper front end ofthe can and secure it thereto by bands of metal 25, drawn tightly aboutthe body of the can. This affords a firm metallic base upon which tosecure the guides 15, and I am enabled to employ glass sirup-cansequally well as metallic ones. By such an arrangement a positive motionof the valve is obtained, while the several operating hand-wheelsarranged upon the front of the fountain produce an ornamental effect andadd to the general appearance of the apparatus.

IVhat I desire to claim is 1. In soda-water-draft apparatus, thecombination, with a removable sirup-can having a discharge-opening and avalve-rod which straddles one of the walls of the can, of anactuating-shaft extending transversely through the exterior shell of thefountain and adapted to have rotary as well as endwise movement, andthus engage with or be disengaged from the valve-rod which it controls,substantially as herein set forth.

2. In sodawater fountains, a removable sirup-can provided with adischarge-opening, in combination with a U-shaped valverod whichcontrols the latter and has a rack formed on it, said valve-rodstraddling the wall of the can, an actuating-shaft having rotary motion,furnished exteriorly with a hand-wheel, interiorly with a gear, and thespring which causes said gear to engage with the valve-rod,substantially as and for purposes herein described.

3. In soda-water fountains, a sirup-can having a valve-seat with ribs orguides 8, the guides exteriorly upon said can, and the upwardly-tapering guide-plate 21 combined with a U-shaped valve-rod toothed in part, thegear 20, which meshes therewith, and the spring-actuated shaft 18,extending transversely through the fountain-front and having rotarymotion to operate the valve, substantially as herein specified.

at. The combination, with a soda water fountain, the rotary shafttransversely of the front, having longitudinal movement therethrough,with a hand-wheel eXteriorly and a gear interiorly, the latter engagingthe valverod, of the spring which thrusts said shaft inwardly againstthe can, a removable can 5, a valve supplied, as stated, to said cans,and the tapered guide-plate 21, all substantially as stated anddescribed.

5. In soda-water-draft apparatus, a removable sirup-can, incombinationwit-h straps 25, girdling the same, guides 15 for saidstraps, the metallic plate 24, which unites the latter, the taperedguide-plate 21, a valve-stem partly outside and partly inside of thesirupcan, a valve-seat and valve, and mechanism operating saidvalve-stem, substantially as set forth.

ICO

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN D. PUFFER. \Vitnesses:

H. E. LODGE, FRANoIs C. STANWOOD.

